Barry Keoghan, the star of Saltburn, has opened up about his harrowing struggles with drug addiction and a near-death experience that saw him 'technically die'. The actor, now 32, shared his story on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, revealing that he was 'stabbed' by a group of men in a haunting vision while a blonde woman led him away. Keoghan, who is now two and a half years clean after three stints in rehab, spoke frankly about his past substance abuse.
The Near-Death Experience
Keoghan explained that he 'technically did die for a few seconds' during his addiction. The incident occurred in London, where he experienced a powerful vision. He recounted: 'There was this sort of image, the fields and the wind, but there was this girl walking away and she wouldn't look back. She had blonde hair, but she was walking away, and I kept calling her, and she just kept walking, and I wanted to see who it was.'
He described the vision further: 'It was almost like she was walking away to get me to follow, and on this side was like council flats [...] in black and white, and the other side was in colour. [On the black and white side] there was loads of lads stabbing me and trying to push me over.' Keoghan now understands that the physical pain he felt was doctors working to resuscitate him.
A Sudden Switch at 32
Keoghan revealed that a moment of clarity struck him at the age of 32, triggering a 'sudden switch' that steered him away from substance abuse. 'I'm clean now, I've been clean for two and a half years. My mom died at 32 of heroin, my dad passed away... but the curiosity of still wanting to do this for me... It took me three attempts of rehab. There was a sudden switch, and it was when I was 32, same age as my mom. I was like, that's it, I am not doing it.'
Psychosis and Flesh-Eating Infection
Keoghan also disclosed suffering a psychosis episode during which he developed necrotising fasciitis, a rare, life-threatening 'flesh-eating' bacterial infection. He recounted how he was slashed with a bottle and contracted the infection weeks before shooting The Banshees of Inisherin. During the podcast, American record producer Benny Blanco asked about scars on his arms, prompting the candid disclosure.
'This is a flashing bacteria infection that I got and almost died. I got it right before I filmed the movie Banshees. I went through psychosis and an event happened and I got hit with a bottle and something happened to my arm,' he said.
Finding Peace and Sobriety
The father-of-one has previously spoken openly about conquering his struggles with drug addiction. 'I'm at peace now, and responsible for everything that I do,' he said. 'I'm accepting. I'm present. I'm content. I'm a father. I'm getting to just see that haze that was once there – it's just a bit sharper now, and colourful.'
